Ball point pen and retracting means therefor



H. W. SAMS BALL POINT PEN AND RETRACTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Aug. 14.1953 Dec. 25, 1956 H5985? I1. JAMS I6 6M fl pa/vy A TURNEYJ Herbert W.Sams, Atlanta,Ga., assignor to Scripto, Inc., Atlanta, Ga., acorporation of Georgia Application August 14, 1953, Serial No. 374,393 4Claims. (Cl. 120-42.03)

This invention relates to ball point pens, and more particularly to animproved retracting means by which the ball point unit for a pen of thissort may be selectively projected for writing or retracted within thepen barrel when not in use. I The retracting means provided according tothe present invention may be briefly characterized as incorporating anoperating plunger slidably disposed within a tubular operating cap thatis mountedfor rotation at the rear end of the pen barrel, with theplunger and: cap interrelated so that depression of the plunger meansassociated with the cap operates to latch the plunger at a forwardposition resulting in projection of the ball point unit for writing, androtation of the cap results in releasing the depressed plunger forreturn to its original rearward. position at which the ballpoint unit isretracted within the pen barrel.

The present invention is described in further detail below in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a ball point pen incorporating aretracting means arranged according to the present invention, the ballpoint unit being shown in projected position; i

Fig. 2 is a generally similar. vertical section rotated 90 as seen fromthe left in Fig. 1, and with the ball point unit shown in retractedposition;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 3--3 inFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 44 inFig. 1; t

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in section of the plunger push tube and capcam tube taken alone as seen in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the cap cam tube taken alone as seen from theright in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, of the plunger push tubetakenalone as seen from the left in Fig. 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more particularly at firstto Figs. 1 and 2, a ball point and reservoir unit is indicated generallyby the reference numeral 10 housed within a two-part barrel formed by aforward barrel portion 12 and a rear barrel portion 14. The

forward barrel portion 12 forms the writing end of the pen and mainlyhousesthe ball point unit 10 which consists of a ball point element 16fitted within the forward end of an ink reservoir 18 that extendsrearwardly for substantially the full length of the two-part barrelformed by the forward and rear portions 12 and 14. A compression coilspring 20 is arranged within the forward barrel portion 12 to engage theink reservoir 18 so that the ball point unit is yieldably biased at alltimes rearwardly towards its retracted position.

The forward barrel portion 12 is adapted for assembly with the rearbarrel portion 14 by an externally threaded portion of reduced diameteradjacent its rear end that is arranged to engage a threaded sleevefitted inside the forward end of the rear barrel portion 14.Intermediately of its length the rear barrel portion 14 is furtherfitted inwardly formed ears 36 on the push tube 32 with an alignmentsleeve 24, and is formed with an inwardly extending annular flange 26 atits rear end.

The previously mentioned tubular operating cap is indicated in thedrawings by the reference numeral 28 and the operating plunger by thereference numeral 30. As shown, the plunger 30 is slidably disposedwithin the tubular cap 28 and projects rearwardly therefrom, whilecarrying at its forward end a push tube 32 that extends forwardly forsliding movement within the alignment sleeve 24. The plunger 30 isreduced in diameter adjacent its forward end to receive the push tube32, and has a circumferential groove 34 in this reduced portion toengage and thereby secure this tube 32 on the plunger 30.

The portion of the push tube 32 adjacent the plunger 30 is fully tubularexcept for a longitudinal slot 38 therein, and on each side of which theabove mentioned inwardly formed cars 36 are arranged. Beyond thisadjacent fully tubular portion, however, the major part of the extendinglength of the push tube 32 is semicircular in cross section, as at 40,this semicircular portion 40 being disposed oppositely to the push tubelongitudinal slot 38 and being of enlarged diameter in relation to theadjacent fully tubular portion thereof.

In order to receive this extending semicircular push tube portion 40, aspreviously mentioned, the alignment sleeve 24 is formed with a bore inwhich one half, as at 42, has a diameter corresponding to the externaldiameter of the semicircular push tube portion 40, and the other half,as at 44, has a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of thefully tubular portion of the push tube 32. By this arrangement, thealignment sleeve 24 is not only adapted to receive the extendingsemicircular push tube portion 40 for sliding movement, but also toprevent rotation of the push tube 32 and thereby maintain its slidingmovement aligned within the rear barrel. portion 14. In addition, itshould be noted that the ink reservoir 18 of the ball point unit 10extends rearwardly to be received within the fully tubular portion ofthe push tube 32 in abutting relation at the bottom face of the plunger30, and that as the smaller bore half 44 in the alignment sleeve 24corresponds in diameter with the internal diameter of this portion ofthe push tube 32, the alignment sleeve further serves to align andsupport the sliding movement of the reservoir 18 during projection andretraction of the ball point pen.

The tubular operating cap 28 in turn carries a cam tube 46 extendingforwardly in adjacent surrounding relation with respect to the push tube32. The cam tube 46, like the push tube 32, is also formed with a fullytubular portion except for a longitudinal slot 48 adjacent the tubularcap 28 and with an extending semicircular portion 50 of enlargeddiameter extending in relation to the semicircular push tube portion 40.

The lower portion of the tubular operating cap 28 is formed with a boreof enlarged diameter to receive the tubular portion of the cam tube 46,and has a longitudinal rib formed therein as at 52 fitting thelongitudinal cam tube slot 48 so as to key the cam tube 46 againstrotation in relation to the tubular cap 28. Also, the tubular portion ofthe cam tube 46 is formed at the part received within the enlarged boreof the tubular cap 28 with at least one slit boss 54 having the slitedge thereof formed downwardly so as to grip this bore against removalof the cam tube 46 from the tubular cap 28. In addition, the cam tube 46provides for assembling the tubular operating cap 28 for rotation on therear barrel portion 14 by means of outwardly formed ears as at 56 and 58an ranged to extend beneath a washer 60 seated below the rear annularbarrel flange 26 and extending therethrough in abutting relation againstthe bottom face of the tubular operating cap 28.

'The "extending semicircular cam tube portion 50 is formed with acant-slot 62 that'is shaped with tw'o'symmetrical leg portions 64curving or spreading rearwardly from a forwardly facing central notch66. The semicircularpush tube portion 40 isinturn formed with a lateralcam lug 68 positioned in following relation within the cam slot 62. As aresult, depression of the operating plunger 30 results in interactionbetween the cam lug 68-and cam slot 62 so that the cam 'tube46 isrotated as theplunger 30 and push tube 32'move downwardly to thebottomof slot'62, directly below notch 66, from 'whichlocation spring 20will urge the cam lug 68 to move into latching relation with the centralcam slot notch 66, and at-which latched position the ball point unit isheld forwardly in projected position. Upon rotation of the tubularoperating cap 28 in either direc tion, however, the push tube cam lug 68is displaced readily from the notch 66 to move freely within one or theother of the cam slot leg portions 44 and thereby release the push tube32 and plunger 30, together with the ball point 'unit "'10, for returnto retracted position under the bias' of the spring 20 engaging the inkreservoirlS.

The present invention has been described in detail above forpurposes ofillustration only and is not intended to be limited by this descriptionor otherwiseexcept as defined inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a ball point pen, a rear barrel portion-having a retracting meansassembled therewith, said retracting means comprising a tubularoperating cap mounted externally at the rear end of said barrel portionfor rotation,

an:alignment sleeve'fixed within said barrel portion intermediate thelength thereof, a plunger slidably disposed within said cap andprojecting rearwardly therefrom, a

.push tube. carried by said plunger and extending forwardlytherefrom forsliding movement within said alignment sleeve, said push tube beingkeyed against rotation in said alignment sleeve, and a cam tube fixed onsaid cap and extending forwardly therefrom adjacent said push tube, saidcam tube being formed with a cam slot shaped with two symmetrical legportions spreading rearwardly from a forwardly facing central notch, andsaid push tube being formed with a lateral cam lug portion positioned infollowing relation within said cam slot, whereby latching of said camlug portion at said cam slot notch results upon forward movement of saidplunger and rotation of said cap results in displacing sai'd lug portionfrom said notch.

2. In a ball. point pen, the structure defined in claim 1 and furthercharacterized in that said tubular operating cap is formed with anenlarged bore at the forward'portion thereof to receive said cam tube,said enlarged bore is formed with a longitudinal rib, and said cam tubeis formed at the portion received in said bore with a longitudinal slotfor keyed engagement with said rib and with at least one outwardlyformed slit boss having the slit edge thereof facing downwardly andthereby gripping said bore against removal of said cam tube.

3. In a ball point pen, a rear barrel portion having a retracting meansassembled therewith, said retracting means comprising a tubularoperating cap mounted externally at the rear end of said barrel portionfor rotation, an alignment sleeve fixed within said barrel portionintermediate the length thereof, a plunger slidably disposed within saidcap and projecting rearwardly therefrom, a push tube: carried by saidplunger and extending forwardly therefrom for sliding movement withinsaid alignment sleeve and having an arcuate extension of enlarged-die'une'te'r' "'with'a portion of "said extension cut away, saidalignment sleeve being formed with a bore having at least two portionsof different diameters, the larger diameter portion corresponding to theexternal diameter of said arcuate extension, thereby keying said pushtube against rotation in said alignment sleeve, and a cam tube fixed onsaid cap and extending forwardly therefrom adjacent said.push'tube,-said cam tube being formed with a cam slot shaped with twosymmetrical leg portions spreading rearwardly from a forwardly facingcentral notch,'.,and said'pushatub'e being formed with a lateral camlug. portion positioned in following relationwithin said cam'slot,whereby sliding movement of said plunger and push tube "in the directionfaced by said notch results in disposing said cam lug in latchingrelation with said notch and rotation of said operating cap in eitherdirection with respect to said plunger results in displacingsaid cam-lugfrom said notch and releasingsaid plunger fo'r sliding movement withinone of said leg portions thereby retracting said plunger and said pushtube:

4. In a ball point pen, a rear barrel portion having a retracting meansassembled therewith, said retracting means comprising a tubularoperating cap mounted externally at' therear end of said'ba'rrelportionfor rotation relative to'said barreL'an alignment sleeve fixed withinsaid barrel portion intermediate the lengththereof, aplunger'slidabl'ydisposed within said'ca'p and projectin'g-rearwa'rdly therefrom, a pushtube fixedly secured to said plunger for movement therewith andextending forwardly therefrom'for sliding movement within saidalignmentsleeve, said push tube being keyed against rotation in saidali'gnment sleeve thereby preventing rotation ofsaid plunger, and a cam;tube fixedly secured to said cap for rotationtherewith and extendingforwardly therefrom adjacent said push tube, said cam tube extendingaround the rearwardxend-of said push tube andthe forward end ofsaid-plunger, said cam tube being formed with a cam slot having a notchtherein facing in a direction of sliding movement of said plunger andpush tube and having two symmetrical lcgportionscurving from eachside ofsaid notch in the opposite direction, said push tube being formed with alateral cam lug portion positioned in following relation within saidslot, whereby sliding movement of said plunger and push tube in thedirection faced by said notch results in disposing'sai'd cam lug inlatching relation with said notch and rotation of said operating cap ineither direction with respect to said: plunger :results in displacingsaid cam lug from said notch and releasing said plunger for slidingmovement within one of said leg vportions thereby retracting saidplunger-and said push tube.

References Citedrin the file of this patent UNITED STATESv PATENTS2,119,778" Crockett June 7, 1938 2,177,839 Most Oct. 31, 1939 I2,712,299 Richmeyer July 5, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,026 Great Britain of1887 962,732 France Dec. 12,1949

63'5,144'-- Great Britain a Apr; 5, =1950 641,595 Great-BritainAug.'l6,a1950

